A void space network is presented for the simulation of mercury intrusion hysteresis in outcrop and reservoir sandstones and paper coatings. Three methods are described which allow the convergence of the simulation onto experiment, each finding the optimum pore and throat size distributions and connectivity according to different criteria. The simulated pore and throat size distributions are entirely different from the first derivatives of the intrusion curves which are commonly employed. The optimum void space networks, which have the correct porosity, are then used to simulate the hysteresis which occurs when the mercury is withdrawn. The effects of contact angle hysteresis and trapping within wide pores adjacent to narrow throats are demonstrated. Considerable trapping of mercury is found to occur because of snap-off effects, without invoking any dead-end pores. Similar networks have been used to simulate absolute gas permeability, tortuosity, diffusion, formation factor, and colloidal flow formation damage and can be applied to any porous medium.